When I first discovered tea I had no idea what I was doing. I went to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana and bought at least 50 grams of everything that seemed remotely interesting. Though, in light of Teavana’s business practices at the time, the 50 grams I asked for of a bunch of different teas ended up weighing closer to 100 grams due to sneaky overpouring. So, I ended up with a bunch of large quantities of teas I never tried before and since I didn’t know any other methods of brewing, if I did not like them hot, I was just sort of stuck with them. Luckily, I found Steepster and swapping and was able to take those large quantities and trade them for new things, which expanded my tea knowledge extensively.
Fruit teas were especially problematic for me because almost all of them include hibiscus or rosehip which tends to drown out everything else. So while the teas smell sweet and juicy, they are essentially just tart, especially when brewed hot. My answer to this? Cold brewing. It has a tendency to tame the tart which gives the other flavors a fighting chance. Alas, this was only discovered after I had given up on so many fruit blends, this one included. That is why when I saw this in the Great Canadian Traveling Tea Box I decided to give it another try, though this time as a cold brew.
Even cold brewed though, it seems this just isn’t for me. Between the fruits and the florals, this is a rather cloying tea. The top note is orange and apple with hibby in the middle creating a divide and settling on the sweet rose base. It also has a waxy quality that sometimes comes with fruit teas which makes this whole tea seem over processed and artificial. I know Teavana tends to blend this with another tea and perhaps that helps to balance out the flavors and hide some elements that are less desirable here. As it is though, I am just not a fan.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Fruit Tea
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description
A tribute to the plentiful citrus groves along the Indian River, this bright favorite blends orange slices and pretty rose petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
